What can I expect in my first psychology session?
A first psychology session is usually more like a conversation where you tell the therapist what is wrong. Your therapist will want to understand you, what has brought you to therapy, and what you hope to change. You do not need to arrive with the perfect words, a complete explanation, a severe problem or all the answers.
You also do not need to talk about anything before you feel ready.
The purpose of the first session is to begin building a safe, supportive relationship and to help you understand what the process might involve. Your therapist should listen with empathy and without judgement.
Some people also worry about being analysed as if the therapist is some out-of-control mind reader. I can assure you that we are not that! The first session more closely resembles a conversation with someone who listens attentively and with empathy.
High-Functioning Anxiety: 9 Signs You May Be Overlooking
High-functioning anxiety often hides behind success, reliability and achievement. On the outside, you might meet deadlines, support everyone around you and appear calm under pressure. On the inside, though, your mind rarely switches off.
ADHD in Adults: 10 Signs That Are Often Missed
Many adults live with ADHD symptoms for years without recognising them. Some believe they are lazy, disorganised, forgetful, or simply bad at managing life. Others develop coping strategies that hide the underlying problem. As a result, undiagnosed ADHD in adults is more common than many people realise as I have seen with many of my clients.
Transformative Psychology: Using Therapy to Build a Better Life
Think of an athlete. They train to improve strength, speed, and precision. They do not wait for injury. Your mind works in the same way. Psychology sessions support your development before problems escalate.
Reducing Burnout Using Healthy Activities During the Festive Season
The festive season increases pressure on your time, energy and mood. Work responsibilities remain, family expectations rise and daylight hours diminish, increasing the risk of burnout. You need focused action to protect your mental health and reduce burnout symptoms.
Applying a Trauma-Informed Care Perspective
In the trauma-informed model, we shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”
It’s a compassionate way of understanding that these behaviours and manifestations are often attempts to cope with overwhelming emotional pain, not simply intentional bad choices or failures.
The Hidden Toll of Shame on Mental Health
Instead of focusing on actions, shame targets the self- leading people to feel they are inherently flawed or unworthy. This is often without any particular actions to cause it. For example, rather than thinking, "I made a mistake," a person might think, "I am a failure." This internalized belief can be paralyzing, trapping individuals in a cycle of self-blame and self-criticism that damages self-esteem and increases vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
World Mental Health Day: Psychology is not just for the sick
You don’t need a major reason to seek out psychological support. Sometimes, checking in with a therapist can be a proactive step toward optimizing your mental health and improving your overall quality of life.
Understanding Suicide: Risk Factors, Indicators and Prevention
Suicide is very often a brief window when someone cannot not access the mental health resources or innate hope within themselves to see through this window of despair. A person may believe it is all bad and will forever remain bad when, in fact, this is not the case.
Understanding Shame: Its Psychological Effects
Shame is an emotion that arises from a perception of being fundamentally flawed or unworthy. It’s a feeling that can affect one's entire sense of self.
Understanding Abuse and the Psychological Effects
By raising awareness and providing support, we can help victims of abuse find the path to healing and reclaim their lives. This is sometimes as simple as starting with improving self-esteem, confidence and building a positive self-image. Never buy into the lies that you deserve this- you deserve happiness like everyone else.
The Difference between Anxiety and Stress
Stress and anxiety, although sharing many overlapping symptoms, are different to one another. Stress is often short-term and triggered by an external stimulus whereas anxiety is a mental health condition that is long-term and more due to more internal precipitants.
Unlocking Emotional Healing: A Beginner’s Guide to Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy is an evidence-based approach to psychotherapy that helps individuals break free from deep-seated emotional patterns and lead more fulfilling lives. Developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young, this therapy combines elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, attachment theory, and gestalt therapy. It works on the present issues while allowing for understanding and overcoming of emotional patterns through schema therapy.
Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of African Psychology: Origins, Schools of Thought, Practices, and Its Intrinsic Value
African Psychology is a growing form of Indigenous Psychology that attempts to bring more relevant perspectives into the therapy room within African settings. It attempts to incorporate cultural and religious beliefs, worldviews and traditions into a Westernized psychology.
Embracing Authenticity: The Power of Gender-Affirming Therapy for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Gender-affirming therapy allow mental health support and services for gender diversity as well as for clients within the LGBTQ+ community free of stigma or discrimination.
“Keeping Track”: ADHD Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
ADHD typically is characterised by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. This presentation, however, is quite different in females leading to misdiagnosis and incorrect interventions.
Unlocking Guilt-Free Relaxation: Prioritize Mental Well-being with Mindful Activities
This is an incredible time to connect with family, friends and loved ones as well as your favourite hobbies and exercises (both mental and physical). It is a difficult spectrum of doing enough to heal the body and the mind from the high tempo of the year that has passed us versus not doing too much that is not conducive to our healing. Find your balance and check in with yourself. Allow yourself guilt-free and healing relaxation time!
Refacing my Trauma
Trauma disorders are psychological conditions that arise from experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. These events can range from accidents and natural disasters to violence, abuse, and loss. In essence, any experiences where a person witnesses real or threatened death can trigger trauma disorders such as PTSD. The effects of trauma can linger long after the initial experience, impacting mental and emotional well-being.
Preparation prior to your first psychology session
It is helpful to consider your first psychology session with your new psychologist and do preparation prior to your session. Here are some ideas on what can be done before your first psychology session for those who may be anxious about it.